County precincts to vote on sale of alcohol

Residents of redrawn boundaries will decide where it goes dry

Bastrop County voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages, including mixed drinks, after commissioners ordered local-option elections June 27.

Rather than holding one countywide vote, four separate elections will be conducted for each of the area’s four justice of the peace precincts. Officials said the elections look to resolve conflicting alcohol regulations created by recent precinct boundary changes, which left some with both “wet” and “dry” areas.

“This is the final step,” Director of Tourism and Economic Development Adena Lewis said. “Because you’re having a general election, we can take this item on, call an election for a yes or no vote to increase the territory where mixed beverage licenses can be obtained.”

County records state changing precinct boundaries does not automatically change an area’s alcohol status. Previous designations remain in place and create mixed-regulation precincts until addressed.

The local-option elections would allow voters in each newly drawn precinct to establish a uniform alcohol status within its borders.

“This is a long time coming,” Lewis said.

The county has held multiple local-option alcohol elections over the decades.

Elgin voters last approved drink sales in 1995.

The elections stem from House Bill 2885, penned by state Rep. Stan Gerdes. The law amended the Texas Election Code to allow the Bastrop County Commissioners Court to order local-option liquor elections following changes to justice of the peace precinct boundaries.